Scammers Are Complete Idiots 2: Scammers Who Flunked Email 101

Scammers, in their quest to deceive and defraud, often reveal their own incompetence through basic mistakes. One glaring example is their misunderstanding of email functions, particularly the difference between CC (Carbon Copy) and BCC (Blind Carbon Copy).

Recently, I received an email notification titled “Unsettled Invoice Notification” that perfectly illustrates this point. Sent from “mikey macarthur” (mikeymacarthur11@icloud.com), the email included a long list of recipients in the CC field. This mistake alone is a dead giveaway of a scam. Here’s why:

Understanding CC vs. BCC

• CC (Carbon Copy): When you CC someone, everyone in the email can see who else received the message. It’s useful for transparency and collaboration among recipients.
• BCC (Blind Carbon Copy): When you BCC someone, recipients cannot see who else received the email. This is essential for maintaining privacy and preventing the exposure of email addresses to all recipients.

The Scammer’s Mistake

By using the CC field, the scammer exposed every recipient’s email address. This not only breaches privacy but also screams unprofessionalism and illegitimacy. No legitimate company would handle sensitive information in such a careless manner. Here are some takeaways from this amateurish error:

1. Lack of Professionalism: Legitimate companies use BCC to protect client information. A scammer who doesn’t understand this basic email function shows a lack of professionalism and credibility.
2. Increased Skepticism: Mass emailing via CC instantly raises red flags. Recipients are more likely to question the legitimacy of the email and the sender’s intentions.
3. Opportunity for Retaliation: By exposing all email addresses, the scammer has given recipients the chance to warn each other and possibly report the scam.

Conclusion

Scammers often rely on the assumption that their targets won’t notice obvious mistakes. However, this blatant misuse of email functions only highlights their incompetence. It serves as a reminder to always scrutinize unexpected emails, especially those claiming urgent financial matters.

The next time you receive an email that looks suspicious, take a closer look at how it was sent. If you see a long list of CC’d recipients, it’s likely you’re dealing with a scammer who doesn’t even understand the basics of email etiquette. And that, my friends, is a solid reason to laugh at their foolishness and delete their email without a second thought.